We sketch how the $R^*$-operation can be used to compute the pole terms of
Feynman diagrams. As an example, we briefly discuss the computatation of the
Higgs decay to gluons. Next, we illustrate how
\MSbar{} counterterms can be obtained with the $R^*$-operation.
Finally, we describe how the UV counterterm of any $L$-loop Feynman
diagram with arbitrary local operators can be computed from
$L-1$-loop massless propagator diagrams.